Satchidananda Saraswati

Satchidananda Saraswati.

Ramaswamy, as he was named by his parents, was born on the 22nd December, 1914, as the second son of a very devout couple Sri Kalyanasundaram and Smt. Velammai, at Chettipalayam, Tamilnadu. After pursuing a highly successful business career, he gave up worldly life on the death of his wife. He visited many sacred places of pilgrimage, stayed in Ashrams with holy saints like Sadhu Swamigal, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Chidbhavananda and Sri Ramana Maharshi, and finally arrived at Rishikesh in 1949 and met Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj upon which he felt he has reached his final destination and his Guru. He was initiated into the holy order of Sannyasa by Swami Sivananda giving him the monastic name of Swami Satchidananda, on the 10th of July, 1949. In February, 1951, Sri Gurudev asked him to undertake an All-India Tour, during which he gave lectures, taught Yoga Asanas and organised Branches of the Divine Life Society.

Biography.

From the time he was a little boy, Swami Satchidananda (then known as “Ramaswamy”) was deeply spiritual. Even as a young child, he spoke truths and displayed insights far beyond his years. His devotion to God was strong, and he looked at people of all castes and faiths with an equal eye, always recognizing the same light within every being. That recognition of the universal light equally present in all people remained as he grew to adulthood, became a businessman, and a husband.

And so began a new level of dynamic service for Swami Satchidananda. Sri Swami Sivananda (photos: newly shaved Sannyasi; with his Guru, Swami Sivananda; in the Ganges just prior to Sannyas initiation) recognized the gift that his newly-initiated Sannyasi had for touching the lives of others and did not let this disciple stay in the Rishikesh ashram for long.

“You can have a spiritual life without having to renounce the world. Be in the world but not of the world.”

― Satchidananda Saraswati

In a chapter of profound personal transformation, he navigated the dissolution of an arranged marriage, a journey marked by his wife’s departure to pursue a love she had longed for and he turned his attention to spiritual practice.

East–West Guru.

Beginning in the early 1970s, Swami Satchidananda was a frequent guest speaker and advisor to Indian communities around the world. In the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean islands, he became a principle advisor to Indian communities in planning their first temples and cultural centers, often suggesting that Jains, Hindus, and Sikhs combine their funds to build one facility that could be shared by all. He also brought the arts, culture, and traditions of India to the West and an ashram in Sri Lanka and a residential school and Yoga center in South India.

Swami Satchidananda’s message emphasized harmony among people of all races and faiths. His motto was: “Truth is One, Paths are Many.” He believed that we are all one in Spirit and that throughout history great spiritual masters, such as Buddha, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad, have come forward to teach the people of the world how to experience this spiritual oneness. After we have found that Spirit within ourselves, we will always recognize it in others. Then, we truly have power to help heal the world. Swami Satchidananda exemplified these teachings. His beautiful message is that we, too, can exemplify them.

Not limited to any one organization, religion or country, he received invitations for over fifty years from around the world to speak about the way to peace. He served on the advisory boards numerous Yoga, interfaith, and world peace organizations.

On the occasion of his birth centennial in 2014, he was posthumously honored with the James Parks Morton Interfaith Award by the Interfaith Center of New York. Swami Satchidananda dedicated his life to the cause of peace—both individual and universal—and to unity and harmony among all people.

“When we forget that we are essentially spiritual beings, we see only the body and mind. It is because we have different bodies and minds that we see all the diversity in people. And wherever there are differences, there can be either fighting or fun. If you learn to appreciate and enjoy the diversity—while realizing the unity—then it will all be fun! We may look different but if we see the spirit we realize, I am you, you are me, we are one.

“Imagine, if all of a sudden we all cease to have these differences—we all look the same and we all have the same name. Imagine the confusion! Don’t we have the expression, ‘Variety is the spice of life?’ But behind all these identities there is something that unites us all—we are essentially spiritual beings made in the image of God. When you realize who you are, then you realize that everyone is equally a spark of the same divinity.

“We should rise above all the differences and distinctions and see our spiritual oneness; we should learn to love each other, to open our minds and hearts. Even just focusing on this one thought: I belong to the whole world and the entire world is my family will make you so happy and peaceful. Remember: Each person is a child of God and we are all sisters and brothers.”

Swami Satchidananda enriched the lives of countless others and his efforts made a positive difference to our world and our future.

I have met some truly great men in my life, but none greater than Swami Satchidananda, for his life is dedicated to service and the cause of peace—both individual and universal—and to fostering religious harmony among all people.

There are teachers who guide their students to mystical experience. There are others, too, who inspire their students to loving service. What I admire in Swami Satchidananda is the consistency with which he bonds these two together.

Source: swamisatchidananda